Aquino promises Mindanao typoon victims help to rebuild their lives

President Benigno S. Aquino III. MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU FILE PHOTO

NEW BATAAN, Compostela Valley, Philippines—President Aquino met briefly with local officials and victims of Typhoon Pablo (international name Bopha) here on Friday, promising government assistance to help them rebuild their lives and livelihood.

Aquino distributed assistance in the form of cash during his visit, which lasted more than 10 minutes.

After seeing for himself the devastation that the typhoon left, the President and other officials,  including Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, flew on a helicopter to survey places ravaged by the typhoon in the adjacent province of Davao Oriental. Compostela and Davao Oriental were the provinces hardest hit by Pablo, the strongest typhoon to directly hit the Philippines this year.

Before leaving with the President, Roxas told reporters here that Mr. Aquino had ordered the creation of a body to look deeper into the disaster.

The President was scheduled to give a press briefing in Davao City later in the day.